The ballast of non-performing loans weighs more and more on bank balance sheets. Last December, according to ABI data, the ratio between gross non-performing loans and loans rose to 8,1%. The ratio was 6,3% just a year ago and at the end of 2007, before the outbreak of the financial crisis, it was 2,8%.
To find a higher figure according to the historical series of the ABI research office led by Gianfranco Torriero, one must go back to May 1999 (8,3%). Gross bad debts of Italian banks in December amounted to almost 156 billion, 31 billion more than twelve months earlier. Non-performing loans at realizable value amounted to €80,3 billion, almost €5 billion more than in November and about €16 billion more than in December 2012.
